Mail box



C. E. PORTER" Aug. 3, 1937.

MAIL BOX Filed April 22, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1937- c. E. PORTER 2,089,037

MAIL BOX Filed April 22, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fnde 2%)"; Charles (9 J QIZ'EF 0K3}: W455 -WM Patented Aug. 3, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT orrics MAIL BOX Charles E. Porter, Chicago, Ill.

Application April 22, 1936, Serial No. 75,719

6 Claims.

The invention relates to improvements in mail boxes but more particularly to boxes adapted to be installed in a wall, and has for its primary objects the provision of such a device which will be simple in construction, economical to manufacture and highly efficient in use;

Another object of the invention is the provision in such a box of co-operating means preventing the unauthorized removal of mail through the entry slot; 7

Another object is the provision of such a box which maybe readily assembled and securely mounted in stacks.

Other objects will hereinafter appear.

The invention consists in the combination and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which:

Fig. 1 is an exterior View of such a box embodying the invention installed in the vestibule of an apartment building;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of an assembly of boxes;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of a box with the removal door thereof closed;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the same with the removal door open;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 4;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section of a modified form of the invention; and

Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Figure 7.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings comprising a plurality of substantially similar boxes l0, arranged in a stack in a recess in a wall ll adjacent a door H of an apartment building or the like. The boxes ID are provided at their forward ends with side flanges I2 and the upper and lower boxes with flanges l3 which are adapted to rest against a frame I4 arranged around the border of the wall recess as best shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

Each of the boxes I!) is provided at each side with outwardly extending lugs i5 having a threaded opening Hi to receive a bolt l1. Vertical wall bars l8 and [9 are provided with openings l9 adapted to receive the bolt l1. By this arrangement when the bars l8 and [9 are mounted against the inner surface of the wall ll the boxes may be readily secured in place as will be readily understood. Each of the boxes Ill is provided with an outwardly and downwardly sloping bottom 20 and with an entry slot 2! in its outer wall for the receipt of the mail, the sloping bottom permitting the gravitational sliding of the mail to the position beneath the slot 2 l, as indicated by the letter 20 shown in Fig. 5.

The entry slot 2| has an upwardly'an'd inwardly inclined guard lip 22 extending along its lower edges and sides. A sight opening 23 is covered by a glass plate 24 also arranged in the front wall of each box.

1 A tiltable and substantially L-shaped lever 25 is tiltably mounted on the bottom of each box It) by means of a transverse strap 26 engaging under the top and through the notches 21 in their sides thereof. At its outer end the guard lever 25 is provided with a hook 28 as shown. By this arrangement when mail is deposited in the box it naturally falls upon the lever 25 tilting its outer end upwardly into the position as shown in Fig. 5 thereby indicating to an observer that the box contains mail. The hook 28 and the lip 22 co-operate with each other to prevent unauthorized removal of mail through the entry slot 2!.

The box is provided with a bottom comprising a stationary portion 20 inclined upwardly and inwardly from the front, as best shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and a movable portion 29 connected to the portion 20 by a suitable hinge 29. The stationary portion 20 is adjacent the front as shown and in position to receive and retain mail in stacked position from the entry slot 2!, as will be readily understood. The stationary portion 28 is inclined upwardly and inwardly from the front as shown and serves by gravity to tend to retain the stack adjacent the front. The movable portion 29 is adapted to hang downwardly from the hinge 29 providing access to the shelf-like bottom portion 20, and at its opposite end is provided with a suitable latch or look 30 for securing it in closed position when desired. By this arrangement the mail deposited in the box will remain in stacked position on the stationary portion 20, which serves as a shelf. after the movable bottom portion 29 is in hanging or open position.

A modified form of construction shown in Figs. '7 and 8 comprises a box 3| closed at its rear, and provided at its outer end with a door 32 which is provided with the entry slot 2| and guard lip 22 as shown. The box 3| is also equipped with the tilting lever 25 installed in the same manner and for the same purpose as before described.

The door 32 is provided at its bottom with a hooked shaped flange 33 engaging an inwardly turned flange 34 carried by the bottom 35 adapted to be disengaged when the door 32 is tilted outwardly at its top. Co-operating frictional flanges 36 and 31 on the door and box respectively serve to hold the door in closed position to prevent accidental falling of the door when released. The door is further provided with a key controlled lock 38 having a thumb knob 39 operating reciprocating lock bolts 40 and 4| which engage the side walls of the box as indicated.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying the invention into effect, this is capable of variations and modifications without departing fromthe spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details setforth, but

desire to avail myself of such variations and.

modifications as may fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A mail box comprising a. receptacle having an entry slot in its outer face; an outwardly and downwardly sloping bottom adapted to slidably receive mail deposited therein; and a tiltable substantially L-shaped guard lever on the bottom of said receptacle and arranged to betilted arranged to be tilted by the weight of the mail deposited thereon to cause its lower end to overlie the outer edge of said mail.

3. A mail box comprising a receptacle having an entry slot in its outer face; an outwardly and downwardly sloping bottom comprising a stationary portion adapted to support the mail deposited thereon in inclined position; and a downwardly swinging door constituting the upper portion of said bottom.

4. A mail box comprising a receptacle having an entry slot in its outer face; an outwardly and downwardly sloping bottom comprising an outwardly arranged stationary portion; a downwardly swinging door constituting the inner portion of said bottom; a guard lip along the lower edge of said slot; and a tiltable L-shaped guard lever mounted on the stationary portion of said bottom and arranged to gravitationally receive and to be tilted by the weight of the mail deposited therein to cause its lower end to overlie the lowermost edge of said mail.

5. A mail box having a suitable entry slot for the deposit of mailtherein; a stationary bottom portion comprising; a shelf arranged and adapted;

to receive and support mail received through said slotyand a movable bottom portion arranged and adapted to permit access to: said mail while supported onsaid shelf.

6. A mail box of the class described comprising,

a.- vertical face; portion having an entry slot therein; a stationary bottom portion adjoining said face portion extending upwardly and; in-- wardly therefrom; a movable bottom portion hingedly connected to saidstationary bottom CHARLES E. POR'I'ER 

